Maybe I've been in denial, but I thought he was staying until Mark Stein & Chris Broussard weighed in last night. Sounds like a done deal that he's gone, but why? What happened to his mindset since last summer? “This has no impact on my interest in staying in Portland,” Aldridge said. “I just want to get a five-year deal. I feel like that’s the best decision on my part.” “I want to be the best Blazer — ever,” Aldridge said. “If I stay the rest of my career, I should be able to catch Clyde [Drexler] by then. I should be able to leave a mark on a big-time franchise that is going to be seen forever. And I will be able to say I played here my whole career. This city has embraced me and grown with me. I have so much history, it just makes sense to stay.” That's as much of a guarantee of "I'll be back" as I ever remember a player giving. He's going to have some explaining to do. Sure, he's payed his dues & earned his right to be a FA. But he gave his word that he'd be back. Perhaps if he was as standoffish last summer as he has been this summer, management takes a look at moving him so we don't have to watch him walk away w/o getting any value in return. How do you go from those words to (allegedly) sticking it in our eye? We're talking legacy here. Especially if he goes to the Lakers, he'll be "booed" every time he comes back for the rest of his career, and if his PR plan to explain off going back on his word is to trash the Blazer Organization for not treating him right (as has been suggested). . . forget about his jersey ever being retired here. He's painted himself into a corner by his words last summer. Blazer fans will want to know what changed, and why. There's always a measure of bitterness when a FA leaves, but IMO this would be comparable to Lebron & "The Decision" in the eyes of Blazer fans. If or maybe when he leaves, Wes Matthews is sure to follow, then there's no reason the bring RoLo back, and we're probably back to the dreadfully painful rebuilding stage. LA will be looked at as the guy who blew it all up. Two straight 50+ win seasons, by all accounts great locker room chemistry, a fan base that adores and serenades him with "MVP" chants, a roster that when healthy is at least close to contending, an owner that is willing to spend whatever it takes to win . . . so what happened? Where did everything go off track? Are you bitter? Or do you feel LA gave us 9 good years and deserves to go wherever he wants, despite what he said last summer?
It's the worst part because if he had been honest we could've gotten something for him. Now we lose him for nothing.
This is what I have been harping on. It's a straight up LIE if he leaves. Him leaving is an absolute FUCK YOU to the franchise. The level of hatred he will receive for kicking us in the face will be greater than our hatred for anyone else in the NBA. We still boo Hedo for godsakes, can you just imagine what would happen to Aldridge?
If LA leaves Portland, he totally played us and left the only franchise in the lurch. Shoulda traded him last year when we could have gotten something big for him. I certainly will boo him every time he comes to town.
If Aldridge leaves, it's unforgivable. Only team I would understand would be going to the Spurs. Every other team is bullshit, especially the Lakers.
He's bitch. Straight up lier. And all this he gave us 9 years bullshit, we had his fucking rights after he was RFA. He didn't give us shit we could have matched any offer and kept him if he liked it or not.. We should have traded this dude when we had a chance we just lost him for nothing. What a bitch he is..
I saw the writing on the wall two years ago. This was literally my fear after the rumors came out two summers ago. This exact bullshit. The whining and the "poor me" and the "they don't appreciate me" crap.
Some bullshit if he lies and leaves now. That's fucked up. Even if last summer he had said "I'm 50/50 right now" but to pretty much commit like he did. Wow. We'll see.
It's funny cuz olshey has done nothing but cater to aldridge since he got hired. Good luck finding another GM like that lamarcus. Then you'll realize what appreciated really means.
Before we start the name calling, let it play out. Granted it does not look good for his return, but I have yet to hear any quote from him or his people.
Totally agree. There's a part of me that wants to believe this is all much ado about nothing & that he resigns. Although it feels like we are watching the proverbial writing be written on the wall, as painful as it may be to watch we just have to let it play out.
Lol, the tone towards Aldridge here changed pretty fast. A month ago it was "YOUR SAUCES ARE CRAP". Now it's "FUCK LMA". I don't blame him either way, but yeah plan B is probably in full swing.
Isn't that the problem; we haven't heard anything from him? I'm sure Portland has told him he is getting a max contract so what is the purpose in being coy?
Nah, if he leaves after saying he wants to retire as the best Blazer ever, I think the resounding response will be "FUCK YOU!"
There is the slight possibility that he actually wants to go through the FA process and hear from other teams before making his decision. Technically that does not start until July 1. I am not in denial. I get that it does not look good, but LMA is not one to talk to the media, so maybe he is just sitting back and shaking his head at all the different reports and watching us turn on him.
